On #GivingTuesday, Find Your Cause & Go Change the World

Tuesday, December 1, 2015


Today is #GivingTuesday, a global day of giving back. The day began in 2011 at New York City's 92nd Street Y & has since taken hold in the nonprofit world as a day to remind Americans to take a step back from rampant consumerism & instead, well, give back.

Because I work for a nonprofit, I've been mired in #GivingTuesday planning for a couple weeks now - but just yesterday, talking to friends who work in the corporate world, I learned that plenty of folks don't even know this day exists. I think it's catching on (it's all over social media today), but in case #GivingTuesday is new to you, I wanted to do my small part - give back, if you will - to bring attention to this day.

I also want to share with you a few of my favorite nonprofits, the places I'm most likely to donate my hard-earned pennies. I do my best to be charitable, but I could certainly be better about it - which is, in fact, one of my 2016 goals... starting today! My list could use a refresher, as these orgs mostly represent my old standbys. I'm curious: Which charities top your list?

The American Cancer Society 

After my dad died of lung cancer when I was 10, I wrote letters to all my friends & family asking them to donate to the American Cancer Society in his memory - to help ensure a future where other kids wouldn't have to lose their parents to cancer. Watching those checks roll in was the first time I understood the power of fundraising & of committing to a cause. Today, I continue to donate to the ACS & their work to fund cancer research, provide support to cancer patients, educate & inform the general public, & eradicate cancer once & for all. www.cancer.org/give  

Planned Parenthood

I've been a fan of Planned Parenthood for as long as I can remember, & in times of less-than-stellar health care coverage, I've relied on their services for my own basic reproductive health. I'm appalled by the recent spate of vitriol against Planned Parenthood, a vital organization committed to keeping women (& men!) healthy, educated, & informed - & yes, that includes performing abortions, a procedure that is both legal & moral. In light of the recent shooting in Colorado, I want to support PP more than ever. www.plannedparenthood.org/donate

The Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism  

I used to work here, & despite their evangelical-sounding name, the RAC does great work lobbying on Capitol Hill on behalf of the liberal Jewish community. They also bring hundreds of Jewish teens to Washington, D.C., each year to teach them about critical social justice issues & how to raise their voices in the halls of government. www.rac.org/donate

ReThink

Run by my friend Tahir, ReThink aims to stop sexual assault before with starts. They're putting  organizers on the ground to spread the message of healthy masculinity, consent, & empathy to adolescent boys, aiming to raise a generation of boys who are partners & leaders in the fight against sexual violence. They're the only organization taking a face-to-face, mass-based approach to changing rape culture, doing real work to make the "1 in 5" rape statistic a thing of the past. www.we-rethink.org/giving-tuesday

The St. Baldrick's  Foundation

In the U.S., more kids die of cancer than of any other disease - but less than 4% of the National Cancer Institute's budget goes toward research related to childhood cancers. St. Baldrick's works with leading pediatric oncologists to prioritize research & funding to save kids' lives. They fund more grants than any organization aside from the U.S. government! www.stbaldricks.org/donate

charity: water

More than 660 million people worldwide live without access to clean water, & diseases found in dirty drinking water kill more people every year than all forms of violence, including war. charity: water is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing clean, safe drinking water to people in developing nations by funding freshwater wells, rainwater catchments, & sand filters more. With every water point they fund, they coordinate sanitation & hygiene training & establish a local Water Committee to help keep water flowing for years to come. www.charitywater.org/donate

To Write Love On Her Arms

TWLOHA is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope & finding help for people struggling with depression, addiction, self-injury, & suicide. TWLOHA exists to encourage, inform, inspire, & invest directly in treatment & recovery. In the lead-up to my 30th birthday, I told a very scary, vulnerable story about my own experiences with depression & suicide; then, in celebration of my own survival, it was my honor to raise $1,500, with your help, to donate to this organization - & now I donate to them at least once a year. www.twloha.com/donate

But #GivingTuesday is about more than just money. It's also about giving time, resources, & helping raise awareness. Whether you volunteer with a local soup kitchen, serve as a big brother or big sister to a local child, write to Congress about issues that matter to you, donate your old clothing to a shelter, or hand a warm sandwich to the homeless guy on the street outside your office building, you're giving back - & while #GivingTuesday is only one day a year, I hope it serves as a reminder to give all year round, however & whenever you can.

So tell me: How are you giving back on #GivingTuesday?

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